Defending judo champion Xian Dongmei is aiming for one last hurrah in the 52kg category today.

The 32-year-old, who has recently just returned from giving birth to a daughter, is still the favorite to win the competition.

Chinese judoka Xian Dongmei battles Japan's Yuki Yokosawa during the 2004 Athens Games 52kg final. She won gold, beating Yokosawa. [Agencies]

She had won the Athens Games gold after defeating Japan's Yuki Yokosawa with ippon.

However, this time around, she has drawn a tricky opening clash with Portugal's Telma Monteiro -- a game many think of as worthy of a final.

Monteiro is considered a strong contender, winning silver at last year's World Championships.

She managed only ninth at the 2004 Athens Games, but has improved vastly since then, winning four different World Cups.

Xian looked calm after Thursday's draw, telling reporters at a press conference by the International Judo Federation: "I don't there's a good draw or a bad draw.

"No matter whom I run into, I will compete on my own terms."

In their last meeting in February, Xian was able to defeat Monteiro at the Super World Cup in France, en route to winning gold in that tournament.

Her other title challengers include Ana Carrascosa from Spain, Anna Kharitonova from Russia, Soraya Haddad from Algeria, Romy Tarangul from Germany, Misato Nakamura from Japan and Ilse Heylen from Belgium.

Kharitonova has been particularly consistent, entering the top three in every competition she competed in recently.

Haddad has regained her form after an infury in her ankle tendon three years ago.

Heylen, bronze medalist at the Athens Games, might also stand in Xian's way, after she finished third in this year's Super World Cup.

But both Xian and her coach believed they are well prepared.

"Our judokas, including Xian, have started their final preparations," said Fu Guoyi, head coach of the women's judo team.

"I'm ready for the Olympics. Everything has been flawless. Everything is great for me," Xian said.